Dining onboard a Princess cruise ship can be a joyful celebration in the truest sense as every dish is “designed for fresh” and crafted to please even the most discerning palates. From hand-tossed pizza to dazzling multi-course gourmet dinners, you will find enticing food and dining options throughout the day, as lovingly prepared as a home cooked meal.
When Princess says their food is designed for fresh, they truly mean it! Breads are fresh baked every day, pastries are made from scratch using the finest ingredients. Steaks are aged and hand cut onboard and ice cream is homemade every day.
Besides the fine culinary tastes of their cuisine, the dinners are presented to you in elegant gourmet fashion. This can make dining a unique and memorable experience.
While we were not used to being so well served and pampered while dining (we were used to putting our own napkin on our lap and sprinkling our own food with pepper) we soon got used to the fine dining experience. However, what was really weird for us was getting up after our meal and walking out of the Main Dining Rooms without paying or even leaving a tip!
Would you prefer to dine on your balcony or while sitting on the top deck watching the sunset? You can by using OceanNow® using the MedallionClass App. You can order your favorite foods and drinks on your phone, stateroom TV, or directly through a crew member, and it will be brought right to you - with free delivery! So sit back, relax, and enjoy the option of not having to stand in line or deal with crowds.
Click here for dining venue hours by ship
Just when we thought that Princess Cruises dining options couldn't get any better they improved it even more! Princess Cruises has reimagined dining at sea to be now more personalized. Now with the Princess MedallionClass experience they have introduced Dine My Way SM which will let you customize every aspect of your dining experience. Whether is is fitting in a formal dinner before a show or ordering food and drinks while you relax at poolside.
Introduced in May of 2021, Dine My Way is all about personalizing your Princess Cruise dining experience. Customize your dining time for each day, whether making reservations for the main dining room (which is included in your fare) or at specialty restaurants (which charge a small fee). Have dinner at the same time each night or change it based on what works for you. Once on board, you can order food and drinks for delivery wherever you are through OceanNow® (kind of like Ubereats delivering your food to you while you are on the ocean!). More options at your fingertips means less time waiting in line and more time to dine your way.
OceanNow® orders can be made using the MedallionClass App on your smartphone, via your stateroom TV, or by having a crew member place the order on the your behalf. OceanNow will include many expanded personalization options as well, so that passengers can order their favorite coffee drink, choose their favorite steak sauces, or pick the condiments they want with their sandwiches or pizza. Click here for a video tutorial showing you how to book your Dine My Way with the MedallionClass app.
Perhaps, one of the only complaints we had with the Princess Cruise dining experience in the past was trying to make reservations each day for our evening dinner. We found the Dine My Way SM process very easy to use and useful during our 2022 cruise.
The only issue we had with trying to make dining reservations on our last cruise using the MedallionClass App was that only I was able to see the Dine My Way logo on the app and thus only I was able to make or change dining information. My wife, had no access to this process. We are not sure if this was a glitch in the app that will be corrected, or if only the primary traveler listed is allowed to use it.
Select dining times for main dining rooms and specialty restaurants.
Change reservations as needed. (It's flexible!)
Request the same time each night if you prefer the same waitstaff.
Customize your food and drink orders.
Share your dietary preferences and allergen information
Request your desired seating location, such as near a window or close to the entrance.
Choose your dining pace (for example: slow, relaxed, or quick)
Let us know who is in your travel party.
Easily make and edit reservations that include members of your travel party or perhaps new friends you've made on the cruise.
Take your pick of a variety of eateries and dining options, including regional cuisine.
Let your tastes and mood decide, anything from a celebratory multi-course meal at an award-winning specialty restaurant to the best pizza at sea. (Choosing what and where you want to dine may be the only hard part!)
No need to get up! Ordered food and drinks are delivered wherever you are with OceanNow®.
The available dining options are as numerous as the entertainment and activities that are offered onboard the ship. Besides the Main Dining Rooms, of which there are three of, the Enchanted Princess also offers several Specialty Restaurants as options (for an added cost). In addition, there are also many casual dining options, including the very large World Fresh Marketplace Buffet.
This very large buffet area, located on the Lido Deck (16) between the main pool area and the stern of the ship, allows a more casual dining experience set for your own pace. From 6 am to midnight, you’ll often find plenty of well-balanced options to choose from. Stop by for breakfast and visit the designer pancake station, or enjoy one of their unique hot cereal offerings, or have a custom omelette made for you. At lunch, look for handcrafted sandwiches, regionally inspired dishes and soups, as well as many carvery selections. For dinner, there’s everything from breakfast at night, family kitchen comfort foods, stir-fry or customized pasta, plus a multitude of fresh fruit and salad choices.
Crew staff are positioned at each entrance and ask everyone entering the area to please thoroughly wash their hands at the 3 to 4 washbasins located at each of the four entrances. Anti-bacterial gel dispensers are also located throughout the buffet area.
The buffet area is separated into two large nearly identical serving and seating areas (During slow periods they may have only one serving section open) with a large salad, pastry, and dessert section in between them. For some reason, we have found the World Fresh Marketplace Buffet area near the stern (back) of the ship to offer a somewhat better selection during both cruises. Both areas also have areas where you can find beverages such as water, coffee, milk, juices, lemonade, or tea. You can also have the wait staff deliver your beverage to you.
In the mornings we love to get our breakfast from the buffet and then go sit out on the aft deck tables to view the ocean or the port we had sailed into that morning. Waiters would scurry to meet us and bring us our coffee and orange juice, or whatever beverage we desired.
Even in the casual buffet atmosphere there were cloth napkins, porcelain plates and cups, and service was typically prompt and done with a smile.
The buffet is open for a continental breakfast from 5 am to 6 am and a full breakfast menu from 6 am to 11:30 am. Lunch is served from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm, afternoon snack time is 3:30 pm to 5:30 pm, and dinner is served from 5:30 pm to Midnight.
You will never leave the buffet area hungry.
All food, beverages, and services in the buffet area are included in your cruise fare.
From zesty appetizers to robust tasting soups, crisp salads, sumptuous Land or Sea main courses and luscious desserts, you'll eat like a king – or queen.
Princess Cruises used to offer two dining options: Traditional Dining, a classic cruise experience which offered having dinner the same time each night (at two different seating times) in their dining rooms. You would enjoy the same table with the same people and wait staff throughout your cruise.
The other option was Anytime Dining, which allowed you the freedom to eat with whomever you wish and whenever you like in the main dining rooms.
These two options have been technically eliminated with the introduction of Dine My Way. Some veteran cruisers who liked the Traditional Dining experience do not like this change but we think it will be a big improvement allowing us to more easily schedule our dining times as we wish.
On our last cruise we actually loved the interaction we had with our waiter Alvin so we requested to be seated in his area when possible as he entertained and served us with his humor and attention. So in effect, we chose a "Traditional" style of dining when using the Main Dining Room.
There are three Main Dining Rooms (MDR); the Soleil Dining Room is located on Deck 5 (Plaza Deck) and the Estrella and Cielo Main Dining Rooms are located on Deck 6 (Fiesta Deck). The food offered in all three of these Main Dining Rooms is the same for each evening, but varies from night to night, so it is always a curious surprise to see what the chefs had prepared for that evening.
The dinners consist of 3 to 4 courses, fresh baked bread brought to your table, along with your choice of beverage. Now order 1 or 2 appetizers of soups or salads. The main course gives you an option to choose from the Land or Sea menus --- or order from both options for an additional $10. Many times you can also order a select steak or seafood option in the Main Dining Room which has been prepared in the Crown Grill Specialty Restaurant for an additional fee of $19.
If you don't see something on the menu that interests you we have heard that you can also request items that may have been served the night before.
Now top off your dinner with a decadent dessert, the award-winning choices are nearly endless! It's your vacation, so indulge! Each evening, you'll have your choice of delectable desserts to choose from in the Main Dining Rooms. Perennial guest favorites include the Princess Love Boat Dream, traditional New York cheesecake, and create-your-own sundae. Chocolate seems to be a reoccurring theme in many of these desserts.
There are few foods that inspire as much passion as chocolate, and master chocolatier Norman Love has designed some of the most decadent, hand-crafted treats exclusively for Princess’ Chocolate JourneysSM program. Trained in France, and named the Inaugural Inductee into the Chocolatier Hall of Fame by Dessert Professional Magazine, Chef Love combined premium quality chocolate with unique flavors and artful designs to mastermind his exclusive creations found in the Main Dining Rooms, Specialty Restaurants, and at World Marketplace Buffet.
These Main Dining Rooms are also available for breakfast from 7:30 am to 9:30 am. Lunch is also served on turnaround days in Fort Lauderdale, sea days, and in select ports.
We found that the service can be kind of slow, but I think they are attempting to create a more elegant dining experience in the process. However, with the new Dine My Way option, you can select how slow or fast you want your meal to progress!
All food and services in the Main Dining Rooms are included in your cruise fare (except special orders).
If you really like chocolate you can also indulge in the extraordinary, hydrating, anti-oxidant chocolate body treatment offered in the Lotus Spa. You'll enjoy the exquisite touch and scent of an amazing chocolate experience as your body is covered with chocolate. (Charges do apply)
To experience a premium dining adventure in the Cielo Main Dining Room you may want to consider indulging in an extraordinary treat for both gastronomes and gourmet novices. The Chef's Table Lumiere is a perfect culinary journey for any special occasion. Join a select group of 12 guests for a behind the scenes gallery tour with champagne and hors d'oeuvres, followed by an extravagant multi-course dinner selected, created, and hosted by the ship's executive chef. At the end of this exclusive and unique dining experience, each of the guests are presented with a photo book capturing the evening's experience and a Princess Cruise recipe book signed by the chef. This table is limited to 12 guests, reservations are required, and costs $115 per guest. I have read that this price is somewhat reduced if you choose not to indulge with the champagne and wine offered during the dinner. This experience is only offered 1-2 times during a 7 day cruise period and you have to visit the main desk as soon as boarding to get on the list.
Princess Cruises has teamed with some acclaimed master chefs to offer their guests some innovative dining options. You may want to try some of these upscale Specialty Restaurants options during your cruise. Reservations are suggested and a per person cover charge or a la carte charges will apply. We have chosen to not eat dinner at a Specialty Restaurant during a "formal" night as often the Main Dining Rooms may offer a more enhanced menu during these more formal evenings. While the cost of the specialty dining venues seems high, it is much lower than most other cruise lines and is a better value then what you would ever find in a land based restaurant.
A refined steakhouse that serves aged and hand cut, cooked-to-order steaks and premium seafood, including grilled shrimp and lobster. With a rich wood décor and a theater-style open kitchen, this specialty restaurant was named among the "Best Cruise Ship Steakhouses" by USA TODAY. Located on Promenade Deck (7).
This is one of our favorite specialty restaurants onboard Princess ships.
Experience the culinary magic of Chef Angelo Auriana — executive chef of renowned Los Angeles restaurants, The Factory Kitchen and Officine BRERA. Chef Auriana crafted a menu of handmade pasta courses, prepared fresh daily, that introduce diners to the flavorful dishes of the Italian countryside. Guests are invited to watch pasta being made fresh in the kitchen. Located on the Plaza Deck (5)
Head to the lively Piazza area to savor casual French bistro-style dining with a modern twist at Bistro Sur La Mer, created with Chef Emmanuel Renaut, who holds the prestigious title of "Meilleur Ouvrier de France" (Best Craftsmen of France) and Chef of the Year by Le Chef, and whose Flocons de Sel restaurant has received three Michelin stars. Chef Renaut has created a tantalizing menu, showcasing authentic French dishes crafted with the Chef’s signature flair.
Because this Specialty Restaurant is open to the adjacent Piazza area on the Promenade Deck (7), which often times has live music playing and more traffic, it can be a more noisy dining venue to dine in. However, if the weather is nice, they also offer outdoor seating on their private dining deck.
The Ocean Terrace seafood bar is ideal for those who love to feast on the bounty from the sea. This stylish bar offers an array of ocean treasures, including a flight of oyster shooters, sushi and sashimi, ahi tuna poke, a royal lobster dish, and the world-renowned smoked Balik salmon, the salmon of the tsars.
A la carte pricing makes it easy to pick and choose. Located overlooking the Piazza on the Fiesta Deck (6).
Choose a luxurious breakfast or experience the "ultimate" romantic dinner at sea: a sumptuous four-course meal, including succulent lobster tail and juicy steak, your beverage of choice, hors d’oeuvres, all served right on your balcony served by our dedicated waitstaff.
Besides the World Fresh Marketplace Buffet, the Sky Princess also offers many other casual dining options to consider. Their menu items are typically included in your cruise fare although some items may be a la carte.
Enjoy specialty coffee and tea favorites, along with a large variety of pastries, sandwiches, desserts, salads and quick bites. This venue is open 24 hours per day and is located in the Piazza area on the Plaza Deck (5). This is one of our favorite places to grab a pastry or a light desert and a cup of coffee and sit and people watch or enjoy some music playing in the Piazza area.
Here is a video showing some of the items you may find offered at this causal dining option.
Food items are free, coffee and tea is a la carte.
Also located on the Plaza Deck (5) adjacent to the Piazza you can get a taste of “la dolce vita” with Gelato, (Fun fact: gelato isn’t ice cream. While it’s creamy, it has less butter fat and fewer calories.) Non-dairy options are also available. Choose from a variety of flavors – hazelnut, tiramisu, pistachio and more – which you can enjoy by themselves or in combination. Handmade fresh aboard the ship every day.
Reasonable a la carte prices.
This charming restaurant offers gourmet pizzas with an open kitchen, where you can watch as your personal pizza is crafted by hand and served straight out of the oven. Located on Promenade Deck (7) in the Piazza area - it also offers outside deck seating if the weather is nice.
All food is included in your cruise fare.
Treat yourself to a 100% handmade Gourmet Burgers, including the Princess Burger or Triple Smoked Burger. The Salty Dog Grill also offers new Street Tacos featuring a choice of grilled chipotle-lime chicken or roasted sweet potato-green chile. And don’t miss the Classic Hot Dogs, plus loaded fries in tempting varieties including chili cheese and bacon and cheese. Located on the Lido Deck (16) in the pool area.
All food is included in your cruise fare.
Also located on the Lido Deck (16) is Slice pizzeria which offers a variety of tempting indulgences that begin with made-from-scratch dough and hand tossed. Try the Stromboli, artisanal toast or renowned Neapolitan-style pizza.
All food is included in your cruise fare.
Cool down with complimentary soft serve ice cream served in a cup or a cone. The perfect treat or dessert for “kids” of all ages. Located poolside on the Lido Deck (16). (Hint - during Movies Under The Stars you can also find free popcorn and cookies here to enjoy during the movie)
All food is included in your cruise fare.
So you don't feel like leaving your room? No problem, as 24-hour complimentary room service is also available when you want to enjoy a quiet moment in your stateroom munching on a club sandwich or maybe that slice of chocolate fudge cake. Breakfast orders can be placed the night before by dialing "room service" on your stateroom phone or by using the MedallionClass™ App on your smartphone.
Charges apply for balcony breakfast and dinner, pizza delivery, bottled soft drinks and alcoholic beverages. Subject to change.
One thing we have not yet found time to do on our previous cruises was to indulge in the Princess Cruise afternoon tea tradition.
Served daily, afternoon tea is a treasured tradition whether it’s a special occasion, an intimate moment for two, or just quiet time for reflection. You will enjoy a wide selection of teas, or coffee if you prefer, served by white-gloved waiters in formal attire. The setting is an elegant dining room, with tables crowned with sparkling samovars and a delicious array of tasty treats: freshly prepared finger sandwiches, cookies and cakes.
The food, coffee, and tea are included in your cruise fare.
Many beverages are included in your cruise fare, such as water (excluding bottled water), coffee (excluding specialty coffee), tea, milk, lemonade, and juices.
If you like to drink water, don't buy the offered bottled water which is left in your stateroom for purchase, but rather bring a reusable bottle onboard to refill as needed. The ship's water is safe to drink as they have a state-of-the-art water treatment and purification system onboard the ship. Ice dispensers are available at the World Fresh Marketplace Buffet, or ice can be delivered to your stateroom by your room steward. We have also found pitchers filled with ice water available near the pool areas.
If you prefer to have specialty coffees, teas, bottled water, alcoholic beverages, or "pop" you can also purchase beverage packages to allow you more beverage options as detailed below.
As you will see, cruise lines can accrue a lot of extra money from passengers who may wish to indulge their thirsts with something other than the beverages included with their cruise fare. Even with the Premier Beverage Package, guests still must purchase any bottled wines and cannot share their beverages with others. I cannot imagine the amount of additional money that people who indulge in drinking alcoholic beverages may tend to spend during a cruise. The Premier Beverage Package which costs $59.99 per person ends up costing over $420 per person for a 7 day cruise, and $840 for a 14 day cruise.
You can bring an unlimited amount of non-alcoholic beverages such as soda beverages or water, either in cans or in bottles (plastic bottles are prohibited), onboard in or on your luggage or carry-on bag if you have room to fit them, or pack another suitcase with beverages if you can't do without your Mountain Dew each day! Hopefully they do not open during luggage handling.
The package must be purchased before the cruise starts. This water will be delivered to your stateroom on embarkation day.
12 bottles (500ml each) at a rate of $7.08
(the water from the tap is safe to drink - bring your own water bottle and refill it)
Regular coffee and tea are free but if you wish to sip your favorite espresso-based beverage or tea with the pre-purchase of a specified number of specialty coffees (numbers vary by itinerary) during the voyage of purchase, as well as complimentary brewed coffee and hot chocolate. Save 20% with the New Grounds Coffee Package that includes 15 hot or cold specialty coffee drinks along with unlimited brewed coffee and premium tea for the duration of your cruise. Once purchased, this package is automatically applied to your account with no additional folio charges until limit is reached. $36.58 (15 speciality beverages)
View New Grounds Coffee Package terms & conditions.
This package includes all fountain sodas, fruit juices, mocktails and smoothies.
The Classic Soda Package is $12.99* per person, per day
*View Classic Soda Package terms and conditions.
This package includes six cans of soda for the price of five (service charge included). You can choose any six canned sodas in any combination. Contact room services to arrange stateroom delievery once onboard. Cost is $11.80 for 6 cans.
Enjoy unlimited premium and specialty coffee and tea, fountain sodas, fruit juices, hot chocolate, smoothies and hand-crafted "zero-proof" mocktails with this convenient package. The Premier Coffee & Soda Package is $19.99* per person, per day
*View Premier Coffee & Soda Package terms & conditions.
Get your caffeine fix: Enjoy premium and specialty coffees and teas along with fountain sodas, fresh juices and healthy smoothies (juice bar), hot chocolate, "zero-proof" mocktails, bottled water, San Pellegrino, Evian and Red Bull Energy Drinks throughout your entire cruise with this zero-alcohol beverage package.
The Zero-Alcohol Drink Package is $39.99 per person, per day
This beverage package that has it all. From morning coffee to after-dinner cocktails, everything is covered, including wines by the glass, beer, cocktails, spirits, specialty coffee and tea, individual bottled water, fountain sodas and more.
The Premier Beverage Package is $59.99* per person, per day.
View Premier Beverage Package terms & conditions.
The Premier Beverage Package is included for free during the Princess Plus and Princess Premier promotions currently being offered. One thing to be made aware of is that even though most beverages are free, some surprisingly are not. You can order a soda - as a fountain drink it is free, in a can you will pay for it. Bottle water is free - as long as you don't purchase it from the machine in the workout area.
*Price listed are in US dollars and exclude gratuities. An 18% service charge will be applied to all itineraries. Purchase price may vary due to currency exchange rates. Beverage package charges are calculated based on the total number of days of your cruise. Packages must be purchased for full length of voyage, cannot be shared, are non-transferable and are non-refundable within 3 days of sailing.
Princess Cruises is happy to meet your request for low-sodium, low-fat, low-sugar and vegetarian diets. Visit Cruise Personalizer® or the MedallionClass app to indicate your dietary preferences.
You or your Travel Agent must advise Princess in writing of any special diet, allergies or medical needs. Requests must be received no later than 35 days prior to departure for cruises to Alaska, Canada/New England, Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico, Panama Canal and Coastal Getaways. For all other cruises, requests must be received no later than 65 days prior to departure. Once onboard, please check with the Maitre D' to confirm your request.
Any special dining requests (name brands, daily food order requests, sample menus, etc.) not related to medical or allergy requirements should be directed to the onboard dining staff and is not handled by their Dietary Office.
You can also eat healthy while onboard if you are selective in your menu choices. The World Fresh Marketplace Buffet offers a large salad area and they always have a lot of fresh fruit and other healthy choices to choose from. Likewise, in the Main Dining Rooms. Sugar free and gluten free desserts are also offered in many dining venues.